Angle(s)

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

LISTEN Janet Feder & Fred Frith Ironic Universe

'Ironic Universe' is the latest album from acoustic guitar virtuoso Janet Feder and sees her team up with another guitar great - Fred Frith. I'm sure you're thinking then that we're in for a journey into the academic side of the avant-garde, and in many ways that's true, but this is one of the most enjoyable and listenable discs of its kind that I've heard in quite some time. Janet Feder's playing is a real joy to listen to, somewhere inbetween the later-period work of John Fahey as he became more influenced by minimalism, and the experimental acoustic guitar work of Steffen Basho-Junghans. This isn't your common-or-garden work of Americana guitar reverie though, far from it - if Feder is playing something akin to folk, she also manages to inject it with her own determined style of playing, and when Frith comes into focus he manages to procure noises from his strings which regular humans such as ourselves can only dream about. The album's defining moment for me comes with 'Short Story', a solo piece from Feder of windswept acoustic folk accompanied by eerie clanging and clattering bringing to mind a sea-bound gamelan orchestra. Knowing these sounds are coming from the humble guitar makes it all the more stunning and it simply has to be heard to be believed. Included in the set, in case you wanted to see proof that these guys can pull of such technical achievements are two solo live shows on DVD, one from each musician and both are marvellous to see. An incredible package and a statement on modern experimental guitar playing which is crying out to be heard! Huge recommendation.